Wailea Scuba Dive

 A couple hundred yard kick out from Wailea beach yields an expansive reef filled with graceful sea turtles, different coral formations, juvenile fish, and lots of hiding places for moray eels.

Today the turtles were plentiful as I had the reef all to myself. No boats tied up and only the occasional fly over from a stand up paddle board which are become a hugely popular option with beach combers here in Maui. A couple of turtles were fast asleep in their caves, out of sight of any would-be predators in the area. And then I came across a couple of young turtles set atop the reef, covered with hovering colorful fish cleaning the algae off its shell. Surgeonfish, potters angelfish, and yellow tangs were all in on the feast, sharing the buffet of algae on the turtles shell.

   Wailea Point is also one my of favorite nudibranch hunting reefs. Today was a bit light with only two Vericose phillydias, but while searching the nooks and crannies for slugs I came across eel after eel. Zebra morays, white mouths, and one big yellow margin moray all inhabit this reef. Some people feel threatened when they come across an eel. It does look threatening with its snake-like face sticking out from a crevice, opening and closing its mouth. This behavior is how moray eels pump water over their gills to breathe, and can be an impressive defensive display, showing off many razor sharp teeth.

 For a beginner dive or an advanced slug hunt Wailea Point is high on the list of shore dives here on the South shore of Maui. Just remember to slow down and watch where you put your hands!

Wailea on Dwellable